A hand up for St. Lawrence College

After a months-long search for the perfect location, all hands were on deck Friday to set up a new art installation at its new permanent home.

Local artist Dave Sheridan donated a nine-foot sculpture called Ascension to St. Lawrence College this week as a twin to the concrete version that was lowered into the underwater sculpture park this summer.

The fibreglass sculpture was offered to the City of Brockville earlier this year; Sheridan originally hoped the sculpture could sit on the lawn in Centeen Park – near where its concrete companion lives 30 feet under water – but there were too many logistical challenges.

It turns out it was a blessing in disguise as Sheridan much prefers where the sculpture ended up. He has been teaching oil painting at the college for the past two years and his wife, Diane, has worked there for 30 years.

“(The sculpture is) a creative expression. It’s about inspiration. It’s about doing your best,” Sheridan said, adding that is what post-secondary education is all about.

“It’s the best location. It even beats the other ideas.”

The sculpture was installed on the front lawn of St. Lawrence College on a blustery Friday morning by a team of faithful volunteers.

The fibreglass installation – created from a mold of Sheridan’s own hand – has its index finger pointing to the sky, which he says has meaning to those in the diving world. But it’s also open for interpretation to whoever sees it.

“It’s going to mean something different to everyone. The title Ascension just means moving up.”

Doug Roughton, dean of the Brockville campus, said the college is an ideal location because of its connection to arts. They have an art gallery, a fine arts program, and when he heard that Sheridan was trying to find somewhere to take the hand, a lightbulb went off in his head.

“We have the land,” he said.

It now sits on the front lawn, easily visible to anyone passing by on Parkedale Avenue, facing east so the rising sun will hit it at the “perfect angle.”

It was a community effort and completely volunteer-driven, Sheridan said.

“Everything about this sculpture is a donation – everything,” he said.

Fiberglass materials were donated by Murray and Steve Golledge from Built Right Utility Bodies in Frankville.

Several other community members put forth their efforts, including retired firefighter Randy Burke, Brandon Campbell of Eastern Engineering, Bob Castle of Thousand Islands Concrete, city Coun. Jeff Earle, Joe Farella, Ron Fenlong, Jesse Hill, Rod Jones from Thousand Islands Secondary School, Onne Van Hoek, Ted Ward of Built Right, along with the The City of Brockville and Zigman Metals.

“It just goes to show what community is really all about,” Sheridan said.

An unveiling ceremony is to be planned for the spring.

(This article was updated to correct the name of Thousand Islands Concrete and to clarify that Ted Ward is from Built Right.)